News for Early Stage Researchers

Current newsletter of the Graduate Services

The newsletter of the Graduate Services is published quarterly. Here you will find current calls for proposals as well as news from the Academic Qualification Program, equal opportunities, university-internal graduate centres, and the Committee of PhD Representatives.

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Research career: Information events organised by the DFG

The German Research Foundation (DFG) offers a wide range of funding opportunities for postdoctoral researchers in the early career phase. The DFG regularly provides information about these opportunities in the online dialogue series "Prospects". Throughout the year, specific funding instruments and programmes for the period after the doctorate are presented in various online seminars. Also interesting for doctoral researchers!

The next events in the Prospects series are

• 31.08.2026, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. CEST – The Walter Benjamin Programme
• 22.09.2026, 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. CEST – DFG funding Opportunities for Postdocs
• 07.10.2026, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. CEST – The Heisenberg Programme
• 11.12.2026, 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. CET – The Emmy Noether Programme

Further information on the event and the slides of past lectures in the Prospects series can be found here.

Lunch Talk | Science Communication as a Field of Work

Are you wondering what comes next after your postdoc? Our lunch talk series Career Perspectives: Beyond the Postdoc offers insights into diverse career opportunities beyond postdoctoral research.

In our next session, we are pleased to welcome Dr. Patrick Honecker, Chief Communication Officer at the extended Executive Board of the TU Darmstadt. He introduces participants to science communication not just as a skill, but as a diverse field of professional practice. 

Science communication is more than simply explaining research results – it is an evolving professional field at the intersection of science, society, media, and policy. As the public’s demand for reliable scientific information grows and institutions increasingly recognize the value of strategic outreach, opportunities in science communication are expanding across academia, research organisations, NGOs, and industry.

Join the lunch talk to discuss a broad range of topics with our guest, e.g.:

• What science communication is – its goals, methods, and impact in bridging science and society,

• core professional domains within science communication, from institutional outreach and media relations to engagement strategy, digital content, and public dialogue,

• career trajectories and opportunities – roles within universities and research organisations,

challenges and emerging trends in the field, including the interplay between academic research and public engagement, and the evolving expectations for researchers to communicate beyond traditional scholarly audiences.

Date: 08 July 2026, 1-2 pm
Location: Zoom

DAAD scholarship programmes "Congress trips" and "Lecture trips"

Since 1 March 2023, the DAAD has once again been offering funding for participation in congresses and lectures.

In the congress travel programme, funding is provided for active congress participation, in the lecture travel programme for lecture activities outside congresses and conferences. You can find the calls for applications at www.daad.de/kongressreisen and www.daad.de/vortragsreisen.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the DAAD Info Centre. You can reach our counsellors on 0228-882 180 at the following times: Monday to Thursday 9am - 12pm and 2pm - 4pm (CEST), Friday 9am - 2pm (CEST), or via the DAAD contact form.

"Writing Friday" for doctoral students

schreibzentrum.berlin offers doctoral candidates free online writing days. On the first Friday of every month, from 9.30 am to 12.00 pm, doctoral candidates meet with like-minded people and are supported in their writing by experienced writing coaches with the help of moderation techniques and writing exercises.

The programme is aimed at doctoral candidates from all disciplines and at all stages of writing. It is possible to join the programme at any time.

Registration and further information on the programme can be found here.

DocColloq for doctoral candidates

DocColloq, which was founded at Trier University in 2018 by research assistants Camilla Haake and Natalie Tröller, is an interdisciplinary network for doctoral candidates from all disciplines and all institutional affiliations.

In regular, digital meetings via Zoom, doctoral candidates from all disciplines from all over Germany are brought together to promote and strengthen the exchange between doctoral candidates and their networking with each other. This exchange format has proven to be very helpful, especially in times of strong isolation due to the coronavirus measures and the digitalisation of teaching and research. Experience has shown that doctoral students face the same problems again and again, regardless of the subject they are doing their doctorate in, according to the two founders. During the meetings, up to three doctoral students present their current research in short 15-minute presentations. This is followed by a joint discussion.

All doctoral students are invited, regardless of which university or college you are doing your doctorate at, regardless of your specialisation or stage of doctorate, and regardless of whether you would like to present your research yourself or just listen!

Interested parties are asked to register by sending an e-mail to doccolloq@uni-trier.de. A link for the Zoom event will be sent to you.

FAZIT Foundation

The FAZIT Foundation is a non-profit publishing company that specifically promotes science and research by awarding doctoral scholarships and grants for printing and travel costs.

Applications for a two-year doctoral scholarship as well as grants for printing costs and travel expenses are possible at any time.

The foundation provides information on further requirements and submissions of application on its website.